09/26/2025
PHOTOGRAPHY AT STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
From the Perspective of a Mobility Scooter
How does a mobility challenged State Fair attendee photograph the Fair? Can being on a mobility scooter change the experience, perspective of taking photographs, managing the camera, or navigating the other attendees.
BACKGROUND
My best friend and wife of over twenty years is mobility challenged, using a wheelchair, or four-wheel electric mobility scooter outdoors. She has talked about having trouble seeing over / around people at events with a sight level of about eighteen inches below mine, changing how she sees things. When navigating crowds, people think she is invisible and walk in front of the moving scooter.
I am a long-time hobbyist photographer and at times have shot professionally. Like most photographers, we have more gear and lens options than first time camera owners, or those that just use their cell phone. I do not want to discount the power of cell phone cameras as they can capture amazing images.
THE EXPERIMENT
To see if there is a perceived difference attending the State Fair using a mobility scooter and how it might affect photography, attended using a four-wheel Pride Go-Go mobility scooter. To add more controls, I used the following during three visits during the 2024 State Fair. The experiment was about photography, not accessibility or ADA compliance by the State Fair.
• Rode DART Rail to the State Fair as someone with a disability might do.
• Used a Canon 80D DSLR camera, 3 different entry-level to mid-level lenses, and shot free hand as the public is not allowed to carry a tripod or monopod.
• Used an LG Velvet 5G cell phone to capture similar images as the DSLR.
• All shots taken while sitting in the carts seat. This limits height, movement, and getting to areas as would a mobility challenged attendee.
THE EXPERIENCE
High Points
• A substantial number of images were captured showing stunning colors and structures.
• I wound the lower angle helped get straight on shots of smaller objects and landscapes.
Low Points
• The mobility cart limited shots, and navigating was difficult to try to get into the best position.
• Sitting in the scooter sometimes made it difficult to get the right horizontal and vertical angles.
• A higher percentage of people were less than courteous than I expected. This observation was based on always being with my wife on the mobility scooter, or pushing her wheelchair, when she attended events. I honestly don’t know if I have previously turned a blind eye or not.
SUGGESTIONS AND BEST PRACTICES
Below are suggestions for someone wanting memorable photos from the State Fair:
General Guidelines
• Embrace the colors and structures. Try images of the buildings and games along The Midway.
• Zoom in and get the details. While broad shots are great, find the uniqueness of the Fair and capture it.
• Tell stories with the images. Capture things that would make the viewer want to know more about what was happening. Would three or four images make the viewer want to see the next one to know the visual story?
Using a Camera (Point and Shoot, DSLR, or Mirrorless.)
• Aperture Priority Default Setting (AP) – This will allow control of depth of field and whether you get a blurred background. While most times photographers will prefer full Manual settings, AP gets the job done and allows freedom to enjoy the State Fair.
• Shutter Priority (AV / TV) – This is best when trying o freeze a moving subject, a fast-moving person, ride, or movement.
• Brace the Camera – Use both hands, brace an arm / elbow on the scooter yoke, or a seat arm.
Using a Cell Phone Camera
• Voice commands to capture image. Most cell phones will default to “cheese”, find a word unique the others will not be saying. I got sharper images, with less phone shake using voice commands than trying to hold the camera steady and tap the screen.
• Learn how to change camera settings, like Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO. Sometimes cell phone cameras automatic mode needs a little help. Imagine trying to capture the balloons in a dart throwing booth where there is little like on the balloons. A little adjustment might make the colors pop.
• Change images size to largest available and highest quality. This helps if you edit the image later. Also, change the Aspect Ratio to 2:3 / 4:6. This gives you an image that prints a 4x6 without content loss and gives most freedom to crop.
NEXT STEPS
• Attend multiple days and times during the 2025 State Fair season. Various times will give a better possibility for different sunlight patterns.
• Take more images indoors and see how effective the on-camera flash, and cell phone flash, help create a better exposed image.
• Attempt to interact with others on mobility carts to ask about their experiences.
• Again, emphasize photography at the State Fair, not ADA accessibility. Maybe a better way to say this would be to make the best use of available resources.
• Visit the Dallas Zoo and see if comparable results are obtained. Permission from the Dallas Zoo’s Public Relations Office has already been obtained. Waiting on cooler weather conditions to see if animals move around than in Texas summer.
Stay Tuned!!
Rusty Cornett
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